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Maker’s Mark 46 vs Penelope Rio
Maker’s Mark 46 and Penelope Rio sit on opposite sides of a familiar divide: an old-guard, wheat-forward classic versus a blender-built, classically built bottling.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Maker’s Mark 46 | Penelope Rio |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | Wheated Bourbon | Four-Grain Bourbon |
| Mash Bill | 70% corn, 16% wheat, 14% malted barley | 74% corn, 7% rye, 16% wheat, 3% malted barley |
| Age | No age statement | No age statement |
| Proof | 94 proof (47% ABV) | 98 proof (49% ABV) +4 proof |
| Approx. Price 1 | ~$38 – $45 ~$49 less | ~$80 – $100 |
| Availability | Widely available easier to find | Limited |
- US shelf prices as of 2026-08; they vary widely by market.
AG’s Rating and AG’s Notes
Maker’s Mark 46
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Penelope Rio
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Maker’s Mark 46 Penelope Rio
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
oak 7/4 oak: Maker’s Mark 46 7 out of 10, Penelope Rio 4 out of 10
spice 4/6 spice: Maker’s Mark 46 4 out of 10, Penelope Rio 6 out of 10
fruit 4/6 fruit: Maker’s Mark 46 4 out of 10, Penelope Rio 6 out of 10
sweetness 8/9 sweetness: Maker’s Mark 46 8 out of 10, Penelope Rio 9 out of 10
heat 4/5 heat: Maker’s Mark 46 4 out of 10, Penelope Rio 5 out of 10
nuttiness 3/3 nuttiness: Maker’s Mark 46 3 out of 10, Penelope Rio 3 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Barrel influence is the main separator.
- Maker’s Mark 46: Finished with seared French oak staves inside the barrel, which adds the spice and wood that the standard bottling deliberately lacks. The most useful upgrade in the Maker's range.
- Penelope Rio: Penelope's four-grain blend finished in honey barrels and then amburana wood. It tastes like a cinnamon roll: honey, gingerbread and sweet baking spice.
Which One Should You Choose?
- Go with Maker’s Mark 46 if you want the softness of Maker's Mark with real oak and spice layered over it at a significantly lower price point and without hunting for it.
- Go with Penelope Rio if you want a honey-and-amburana-finished bourbon that tastes like a cinnamon roll.
Best enjoyed neat, rocks, old-fashioned (Maker’s Mark 46); neat, old-fashioned (Penelope Rio).